Flexible container



March 31, 1953 K. TREIBER 2,633,172

FLEXIBLE CONTAINER Filed Nov. 1, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l F'i/ .2. a

March 31, 1953 K. TREIBER 2,633,172

FLEXIBLE CONTAINER Filed Nov. 1, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 svwewkw nnef/L/ZZe/Zer A, w gmw 61 Norway March 31, 1953 TRE|BER FLEXIBLE CONTAINER Filed NOV. 1, 1948 4 Shqets-Sheet 4 Flu:

J 1 w J 6 H b a w t u n M e v H m G 8 m a h 6 x n 5 H m a Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE CONTAINER Kenneth L..Treiber, Alexandria, Va. 7 Application November 1, 1948, Serial No. 57,798

Y 3 Claims. (01. 150-05) (Granted under Title 35,11. s. Code (1952),

. The invention, described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me I of any royalty thereon.

The. present invention relates to storagecells For containers, and more particularly it is di- ;rected to. a storage tank for liquids such as water, petroleum products, fuels, lubricants and the like, of acollapsible type whichis readily portable andwhich; may be assembled readily for field operation. :It. is wellknown that such type of ii,a;tank or container is an important adjunct to military operations, or for other installations -where it is desired to store liquids in receivers more or less temporarily installed in a given location, which receivers can be transported readily toja new location and set up anew.

g The use of such type of collapsible and portable storage tanks or containers is not unusual both 1 in military and peacetime installations where storage space is of a temporary or transient character is found to be desirable. The tanks of. this type are freely collapsible, enabling ready storage and transport. They are producible'in any desired capacity, and when collapsed V incident to emptying, they may be folded into a compact form and transported readily on a truck ftqzfi new location for its reassembly.

From the foregoing, the invention will 'be seen to have for one of, its objects the provision of a collapsible, flexible cell ortank for the storage of water or motor fuel, lubricants, or the like, which can be readily assembled and removed when desired, and which will hold safely a relatively large volume of the contained liquid, and which is adapted to follow the normal configuration taken by the confined liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closed flexible container for storing liquids,

which containeris provided with a storage safety -,va lve orrelief valve in its construction. p Astill further object of the invention is to pro- 5 vide a storage cell or reservoir construction in the ,form of a general circular horizontal cross-section, which is made .of any-suitable liquid-imipervious flexible material, and which is adapted ;to exert substantially uniform pressure on contained liquids,;while being sufficiently rugged in construction sothat it will retain the confined liquid while automatically adjusting its shape andhence its capacity to whatever volume of liquid is retained within it.

-A still further object of the invention is to provide a storage cell for liquids which will be .siibstantia capaci xam ..whi ma be s t; I

sec. 266) up rapidly under emergency field conditions and readily filled with the liquid to be retained, but

' which requires no added supporting structures of any kind.

Further objects and advantages of the construction of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointed out in particularity in the appended claims.

It will be understandable readily that for various purposes in addition to military operations and installations, it is highly desirable to have available readily portable storage cells or tanks tion;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, resting upon I the ground in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a plate or cover em- I ployed in assembling the storage tank or-cell of v the present invention;

4 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a further cover plate employed in assembling the construction of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the element of i Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a valve assembly employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a wicket member employed in securing the valve assembly of Fig.

- '7 in position; 15

1 the storage cell of Fig. 1 taken on the line IX-IX Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of of Fig. 1,1ooking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailed view of a fragment of the envelope, showing the manner in 1 which the parts are secured together;

. Fig. 11 is a half plan view of one-half of a manhole ring installed at the top of the container;

.Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the half-ring of Fig. 11, the "view being taken along the line .:XIITX II.of.Fig.1,1;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a hose coupling employed for attachment of a hose to be used in filling the storage cell;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of one-half of the end ring on the coupling assembly of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a coupling assembly employed in draining the contents of the storage tank or cell therefrom;

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line XVI-XVI of Fig. 15, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary plan view of the 'fabric of the container across one of the segmental ribs toward the top of the tank; I t A t Fig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line XVIIIXVIII of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 17 taken adjacent to the bottom of the tank "as viewed in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation on the line of Fig. '19.

Referring more particularly to the 'drawings, the improved storage tank of the present invention is composed of a fabric envelope'or container provided with a top plate B, the container A being formed with a plurality of sections C joined together by rib seams D, which will be referred to in greater particularity hereinafter. The coritainer A is composed of a fabric asser'hbly which is collapsible and foldable into a small and compact space 'for storage and transport, but which has a substantial cap'acity'and which isself-supporting when containing'liquid to be stored, so that no extraneous supporting construction is required. The container A is substantially circular in any horizontal cross section, and is adapted to rest either on the ground or on any prepared surface when iii-service. A bottom plate Iii generally simpointed out in particularity in the following description; and as illustrated in the drawings, the tank envelope A is provided with pipe coupling means F, G, and H for facilitating attachment of pipes for filling the tank A with liquid, or draining stored liquid from the tank, or for drainage from the tank of anyaccumuiated water that may have found its way in devious means into the interior of the tank and forms a bottom liquid layer beneath a body of motor fuel where the tank is used as storage for motor fuels or the like.

In addition to the foregoing features, the present improved construction employs certain features of safety means by which any abnormal condition in the tank can be detected visually and remedied accordingly.

A detailed description of the construction of the envelope A now will be given.

As has been indicated above, the envelope A is composed of a body of collapsible 'material'which conveniently is a fabric that has been treated if necessary to make the same proof against leakage of the liquid stored therein. This envelope A is composed of a series of segments or sections that are defined by the seams D which pass from the top to the bottom of the tank that is ready for service. For forming the seams D, adjacent edges of the envelope A, designated 22 and 23 are turned together to form abutting flanges 26, 28 and secured together by stitching 30. Behind the flanges there is disposed a layer of fabric 32 of substantial length, which layer is laid flatly against the fabric body A of' the tankj andthe flanges 26, 28 are overlaid with a further layer of fabric 34 which covers the flanges 2B, 28 and which extends for a substantial distance on both sides of the fabric seam. The fabric layers 32 and 34 are secured together by stitching 36 which passes through the fabric layers and through the layer A of the tank envelope, thus holding the parts securely together, and since the respective fabric layers are suitably rendered impervious to the liquid to be stored in the tank, mechanical loss of such liquid through leakage between the contiguous edges of the fabric envelope A of the tank, is prevented in an efiicient manner, while the seams themselves, which may extend outhardly fi-e'mthetahk, are protected against damage orpossibility thereof by the overlying fabric layer 34 which forms a protective covering for the seams, which are sealed eifectively against damage and leakage through the provision of the additional sealing layers 32 and 34. For still further reeniere'ement "and protection, there may be provided, adjacent to the bottom "or the tank. gummed 'st'rip's 38 and 40 which are disposed so as to cover the stitching 36 and the an'gmsrormed by the covering layer 34 passing overthe seams D, the'se gummed stiips'eiitehdihg fora suitable distance above the bottom of the tank-, for example, about two feet above the ground line. The various l'ayei's stiffen and reinforce the seams D as well as affording protection therefor, and 'fa'cintate the maintenance of the -"tank fsuitable shape for enabling rea'dy fining anddispehsin of the li uid relative tb thetank-,azrd to make the tank sufiioie'ntly stiff aior g its seams to be selfsu'staining when contaimn'g liquid. This selfsustaining feature eliminates an need for the provision of any extra' eo'us supporting structure for the tank, the 'tank'be'ih'g' sufficiently flexible, however, so that its contour will follow roughl the liquid level in the tank during both filling of liquid into the tank and the discharge "of the liquid therefrom, the tank expanding during filling, and collapsing during discharge of liquid therefrom until the ooilapsin 'is balanced by the pressure of accumulated vapors above'the liquid in the space rdrmertyoccupied bythe liquid.

As has been mentioned above, the tank' i's provided with a top plate is and a bottom piate E. 'Ihefplates are composed .preterably or the same fabric"a'sth'e containemand preferably are formed or two 1ay'er's 42 and 44 forms top plate 3 and 42a. and Ma for the'bottoirr-plate E. These layers are se arated peripherally for rece'ivin'g and clampiirgthe layers or the fabric assemblyof the tank, as described above, asw ill bes'een riior'e articularly from Fig. 9. 'The'top plate B maybe provided with an openin adapted to ser've as a manhole, that normally is closed by a flexible diaphragm is, of 'rubber IiKe material which m'ay be either natural or synthetic in or-igin'and' which is inert to the contents of the-tank, or rubber itself, th'at is held'b'etw'een a manhole nngiis, Figs. 11 and 12-, that is channcl sh'aped "for boltinge lower retaining ring EOtheret t'the bolts 52 passing through the lower flange 54 of thebhaiinel, the plate B and the lower retaining ring 50, the plate B being thus "clamped between the channel ring 48 and the iower r in "'50, "the nex ibie' diaphragi'n 46 being held in similar ihanner between the upper flange 56 or' the'cnanna ring 38, and the top r'ing'SB, bolts to serving as theattaching means. These bolts to clamp the peripheryer the diaphragm as, which diaphragm tin-'1 bulge and in extreme cases will break under pressure of vapor-sinthe-tankAtheamount'oi'deformation :of this diaphragm being a visual indication of the pressure of the vapors in the tank. The channel member or ring 48 and the top and hottom ring members 58 and 50 are composed of light metal .such as aluminum, or the aluminummagnesium alloy known to the trade as magnalium, for example. Thus, the amount of deformation of the flexible diaphragm 46 gives a continuous visual indication of the pressures of the vapors in the tank above the liquid level, the amount of deformation increasing or receding responsively to changes in pressure conditions within the tank. "As has been indicated above, in extreme cases where the pressure exerted by such vapors exceeds the breaking strength of the material ,of the diaphragm, the diaphragm will rupture. Therefore, the diaphragm 46 serves as a safety valve, and in view of the potential breaking of thediaphragm under accumulated vapor pressures in the tank, the thickness and material of the diaphragm should be selected so that,

should such breakage occur, it will take place before there is any likelihood or danger of the pressures in the tank straining either the seams between the segments of the tank or the interstices of the fabric of the tank to a point where leakage of the liquid contents of the tank would occur.

It has been mentioned above that the tank A is provided with a plurality of pipe fitting, or couplings. Thus, there is provided an intake pipe coupling F, to which a liquid intake pipe 62 is attached. While the intake pipe or hose 62 and coupling F therefore may be varied widely in construction, a suitable form is shown in detail in Fig. 13. The fitting F is secured to the fabric of the container by bolts or the like 64, the fitting itself being composed of a ring 66 which clamps the container fabric between itself and channel ring 88, the bolts 64 passing through flange I8 of channel ring 68 and into ring 66, a flange I2 of the channel ring 68 connecting with flange 14 of threaded coupling 16 by bolts I8, a gasket 88 being interposed between the flanges I2 and 74 to assure a liquid-tight flt therebetween. The coupling I6 receives sleeve 82 of the hose 62, the sleeve 82 being threaded internally as indicated at 84 for registering with the external threads 86 on the coupling Hi. The end of the fitting I6 is tapered inwardly as indicated at 88 which fits against a complementary portion 98 in sleeve 82, adjacent to the hose 62. The supply hose 62 is provided with a control valve 92 for controlling the flow of liquid into the tank A.

The tank A also may be provided with a drainage pipe 94 attached to fitting G, this pipe 94 serving to drain from the tank any water contained therein, which may have been mechanically included in the liquid fuel introduced into the tank, or which may have come from any other source. This drainage pipe 94 extends for a substantial distance into the tank.

The drainage pipe 94 may be attached suitably to a nipple 96 provided with a flange 98 which is secured to a flange I of a channel fitting I02, the flanges 98 and I80 being secured together by bolts I84, and retaining between them the fabric of the tank. A second flange, designated at I86 on fitting I02 is bolted to flange I88 of a second nipple IIII by bolts II2. Both nipples 86 and III! are threaded externally as indicated at H4 and H6 the threads I engaging'internal threads II8 of pipe section 94 and threads II6 engaging internal threads I20 of pipe section 940. that fits over nipple 0. A

sealing gasket I22 is inserted between flanges I08 and I08.

A control valve I24 may be inserted in the drainage pipe. This valve may be of any conventional type adapted to open and close the the drainage pipe. It may be desirable, however, to anchor the valve to the ground or other mounting surface, and when found to be so desirable, the anchoring wickets I26, I28 may be employed,

the valve being maintained above the ground line by the provision of a wooden ground plate I38 through which the anchoring wickets I26, I28 are driven.

When the tank is not in service, the top manhole beneath the diaphragm 46 is covered by a cover plate I32 by removing ring 58 and replacingthe ring with the plate I32; and the rings 86 and I88 of the pipes F and G are removed,

and replaced by similar cover plates I34.

While the present invention is herein described and illustrated in a preferred form, it will be apparent that the structural details thereof may be varied considerably without departing from the inventive concept; and accordingly, it will be understood that it is intended and desired to embrace within the scope of this invention such modifications and changes as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A flexible container for bulk storage of liquids comprising a substantially circular base section, a substantially circular top section, a flexible fabric main body mounted thereon interconnecting the said base section and said top section, the said fabric main body being of a single cell construction throughout, the said fabric main body comprising a plurality of panels extending between the top and base sections, liquid-impervious seam means longitudinally interconnecting said panels, said seam means comprising a stitched fold with the panel edges extending outwardly from the main body, an inner closing panel secured to the inner surface of the fabric main body inwardly covering the said seam means, an outer closing panel arcuately covering the outwardly-turned panel edges of said seam means and secured to the outside of the said fabric main body, and a plurality of parallel rows of stitching disposed on both sides of the said outwardly turned panel edges and passing through the interconnecting the said inner and outer panels and the fabric main body panels in liquid-tight relation.

2. A flexible container for bulk storage of liquids comprising a base section, a top section, a fabric main body mounted thereon interconnecting the said base section and said top section, the said fabric main body comprising a plurality of panels extending between the top and base sections, liquid-impervious seam means longitudinally interconnecting said panels, said seam means comprising a stitched fold with the panel edges extending outwardly from the main body, an inner closing panel secured to the inner surface of the fabric main body inwardly covering the said seam means, an outer closing panel arcuately covering the outwardly-turned panel edges of said seam means and secured to the outside of the said fabric main body, and a plurality of parallel rows of stitching disposed on both sides of the said outwardly turned panel edges and passing through and interconnecting the said meat-t2 7 inner and outer panels and the fabric bod panels in liquid-tight relation.

3. A flexible eontainer for bulk storage of liquids; which comprises, in combination, a substantially eireuiazr base seeti'on, a substantially i'r'filekl" top section, a flexible fabric main body mounted on the base 'sep'tio'n interconnecting the said base section and. the top seetion and. being of a single cell construction thrbugheut, the fabri-e body cempnsing a pliraiityof panels extendi'ne between the top sectien and the base section, liquidq'mpewieu's seam means interconnecting the panels, the seam means comprising a stitched fold with the edges of the anels extending outwardly fre'm the main body, an inner elosing panel see'uied t0 the inner sui faee of the fabric main body inwardly covering the Said seam means, an eute'r musin panel arcua'tely GOVerihg the outwardly-turned panel edges of the seam means and secured to the outside of the said -f-abri'c main may, and a plurality of parallel rows of stitching ii'spesed on both sides "of the outwardly turned panel edges "and passing through and interoenneetin'g the inner and enter 'panels and the 'fabiic main body panels in liquid-tight relatien, the sale panels and tops and b'ottem sections being" so arranged as to provide :a flat REFERENCES CITED The following references are 0f record in the file of this patent:

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